International Desk //

Russia and Ukraine agreed to exchange 1,000 prisoners of war with each other at joint talks in Turkey on Friday. In addition, the possibility of a ceasefire and a meeting between the top leaders of the two countries were also discussed, negotiators from both sides said in separate television statements. AFP reports.

On the Russian side, chief negotiator Vladimir Medinsky said that 1,000 Ukrainian prisoners of war will be released in exchange for 1,000 Russian prisoners of war in the next few days.

He also said that the Ukrainian side has requested a direct meeting at the head of state level. We have taken that into account and agreed that both sides will present an outline of a possible ceasefire.

Ukraine’s chief negotiator and Defense Minister Rustam Umerov also confirmed the prisoner exchange in a separate statement. He said that the talks also discussed a ceasefire and the possibility of a Zelensky-Putin meeting.

The issue of a meeting between the two countries in Turkey to end the war in Ukraine has been under discussion for several days. However, Volodymyr Zelensky and Vladimir Putin did not attend. On Wednesday, Trump also expressed his interest in attending the meeting. He indirectly invited Putin there, but Putin ultimately refused to go.

Donald Trump also said on Thursday that a ceasefire would not be successful before Putin met with him.

This is the first time since the war began in 2022 that the peace process between the two countries is to be discussed. Zelensky is naturally angry at Putin’s decision not to attend the meeting. He complained that Russia has no good will to stop the war.

Zelensky also said on Friday that if there is no solution to stop the war this time too, the West should impose strict sanctions on Moscow.

Express your opinion.